YEDA - Youth Equestrian Development Association, Inc

YEDA Nationals: Where the fun began for the entire family ✨

Beyond the competition arena, YEDA National Championship Week was filled with opportunities for students, families, and supporters to connect, celebrate, and create lifelong memories. Riders enjoyed special events including the Cowboy Prom, while parents and coaches enjoyed the chili cookoff. Student could look out over the Anderson Coliseum while dancing the evening to their favorite music. Always a huge hit for the students to blow off some energy before the final day of competition.

Spectators were treated to the always-popular Coaches Calcutta, giving students the chance to cheer on their coaches from the sidelines. Throughout the week, participants enthusiastically supported the YEDA Scholarship Incentive Fund (SIF) through Rally Up raffles, auctions, and fundraising activities, helping provide future educational opportunities for YEDA students. We extend our sincere gratitude to Brinks Hattery, Paradise Leather Company, Hull Electric, and the many generous donors who contributed prizes and support. A special thank you goes to Sandy Jirkovsky from the Official American Paint Horse Association for their generous sponsorship of the Cowboy Prom in memory of her father, Hadley Campbell. We are equally grateful to everyone who donated items, bid in the silent auction, purchased raffle tickets, and supported these efforts. Their generosity helped make the week even more memorable while strengthening the future of YEDA through scholarship funding.

A special thank you to HAALA Denim⁠ for their continued support of YEDA National Championships. Year after year, HAALA Denim helps celebrate the accomplishments of our riders by generously providing premium HAALA jeans as awards for outstanding performances. Their commitment to recognizing hard work, dedication, and excellence in the arena makes a lasting impact on our students, and we are grateful for their partnership in helping make Nationals such a memorable experience for our competitors.🔹

Forget to pick up a 10 year anniversary patch at Nationals?? We still have a few available for only $10 each! Don't miss out!

To order, contact Debbie at 📩 [email protected] or 📱 (419) 566-6589.

A big THANK YOU to these 8 riders who were tremendous help at Nationals setting up, tearing down, and everything in between! Pictured left to right are Taylor Collins, Kassidy Turner, Kaci Reynolds, Violet Shetler, Millie Lee, Anna LeGault, Allie Kratzer, and Shelby Zimmerman.

All of these ladies were riders in YEDA as youth!

ORDERING OPEN UNTIL 12:00PM TODAY!! DON'T MISS OUT!

🌟Celebrate your Nationals accomplishment with a buckle! Submit orders to Laura Smith at 📧 [email protected] by noon today!

Forget to pick up a jacket and 10 year anniversary patch at Nationals?? There is still time to order! Don't miss out!

To order, contact Debbie at 📩 [email protected] or 📱 (419) 566-6589.

To all of our YEDA Dads, HAPPY FATHER'S DAY!

A big THANK YOU to Steve Shank, CEO of the Virginia Horse Center.

Steve was presented with a plaque from the YEDA founders that read "Steve Shank, Best Friend to YEDA." We are truly grateful for his unwavering friendship, belief in the YEDA Program and impeccable coordination in allowing YEDA to call the Virginia Horse Center home for the 2026 YEDA Nationals and beyond.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

YEDA National Championship Week Celebrates Youth Achievement While Showcasing Virginia's Equine Industry ✨

LEXINGTON, VIRGINIA — The Youth Equestrian Development Association (YEDA) concluded its 2026 National Championship Week at the Virginia Horse Center in Lexington, Virginia, bringing together approximately 500 youth riders from more than 30 states for four days of competition, education, scholarship presentations, and celebration during YEDA's 10th Anniversary season.

YEDA Nationals was made possible through the partnership and support of the Virginia Horse Industry Board - VHIB, the Virginia Horse Center Foundation, and the Lexington, Virginia and the Rockbridge Area Tourism community, whose efforts helped create an unforgettable experience for visiting families while highlighting Virginia as a premier destination for equestrian events.

"Virginia truly rolled out the red carpet for our riders, families, coaches, and industry partners," said Debbie Arnold, CFO & Co-Founder of YEDA. "From the first welcome message to the final awards presentation, our families experienced not only an exceptional competition venue but also the hospitality, history, and beauty that make Virginia's horse industry so special. I know I will be back this summer."

ECONOMIC IMPACT AND INDUSTRY PARTNERSHIP

Through the support of the Virginia Horse Industry Board, Rockbridge Regional and the Virginia Horse Center, YEDA National Championship Week generated significant tourism activity for the Lexington and Rockbridge County region. Riders, families, coaches, officials, vendors, and college recruiters traveled from across the United States, creating hundreds of hotel room nights and supporting local restaurants, retail establishments, attractions, and service businesses throughout the week.

The Virginia Horse Industry Board's investment helped introduce visiting families to the broader Virginia equine industry through educational materials, promotional outreach, and connections to Virginia farms, businesses, colleges, and equestrian organizations.

Throughout the event, visitors were encouraged to explore local attractions, dining, outdoor recreation, and historic sites, often extending their stays before and after the competition. Information provided through YEDA and community partners helped families experience the region while contributing directly to the local economy.

The Virginia Horse Center once again demonstrated why it is one of the nation's premier equestrian facilities, providing a first-class venue capable of hosting a national championship of this scale while creating a welcoming environment for competitors and spectators alike.

CELEBRATING YOUTH ACHIEVEMENT

While the economic impact was substantial, the true focus of the week remained on the accomplishments of the young riders who earned the opportunity to compete on the national stage.

YEDA's unique catch-riding format requires competitors to ride unfamiliar horses provided by host teams, rewarding horsemanship, adaptability, sportsmanship, and equine knowledge rather than horse ownership.

Throughout the week, riders competed in a variety of western disciplines, earning individual and team honors while demonstrating the values of hard work, perseverance, and partnership that define the equestrian industry.

SCHOLARSHIPS AND SPECIAL RECOGNITIONS

During National Championship Week, YEDA and its industry partners awarded scholarships and special recognitions to outstanding youth participants who demonstrated excellence both inside and outside the show arena.

As YEDA celebrates ten years of growth, the organization remains committed to creating opportunities for youth to experience the horse industry regardless of horse ownership while developing the next generation of riders, horse owners, professionals, and industry leaders.

YEDA extends its sincere appreciation to the Virginia Horse Industry Board, Virginia Horse Center, Rockbridge County tourism partners, sponsors, volunteers, coaches, horse providers, families, and student riders whose efforts made the 2026 National Championship Week a tremendous success.

A big THANK YOU to the Mayor of Lexington, Frank Friedman, and Rockbridge County Board of Supervisors, David McDaniel, for joining us for our opening ceremonies today. Also with them were Brandy Flint, Director of Economic Development, and Spencer Suter, Rockbridge County Administrator, as well as Steve Shank, CEO Lexington Horse Center. We are humbled and honored to have them be a part of the 2026 YEDA Nationals, and we are incredibly grateful to be here in Lexington for our 10th anniversary. 🔹

Congratulations 🎉 to Jeremy Hull from Maple Grove Elite Equestrians on winning the random draw for the custom Moran saddle at Nationals! A big THANK YOU to Moran Saddlery and East Coast Silver And Leather for generously donating this beautiful saddle.

A big THANK YOU to our 2026 YEDA Nationals Judges and Ring Stewards! We appreciate your wisdom and fairness inside the ring and are grateful for all you do for the equine industry.

JUDGES
🔹Tim Abler
🔹Lynda Danielson
🔹Lori Gordon
🔹Kim Myers

RING STEWARDS
🔹Jay Lanzer
🔹Lauren Brown
🔹Kelli Wainscott
🔹Tammy Cranouski